Sophomore forward Jenna Brioni, 10, moves the puck on the ice during the Ohio State-Wisconsin game on February 18, 2022. Ohio State won 5-1.Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin Lantern File Photo
The Ohio State University women's ice hockey team was eliminated Saturday in Madison, Wis., after winning 16 straight games.
The No. 1 Buckeyes (29-3-0, 26-2 WCHA) split a weekend series with the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (29-5-0, 23-5-0 WCHA). and won 3-1 on Friday. They lost 4-2 that night at La Verne Arena.
“Hopefully this gives us motivation to know that we can win,” head coach Nadine Muselal said.
Ohio State started the series with an uphill battle on Friday night. The Buckeyes allowed a season-high 19 shots on goal in the first period, but only made two of their own. Senior goaltender Raegan Kirk saved all 19 shots, keeping the game tied 0-0.
“If she hadn't made that save in the first period, the outcome of the game could have been different,” Muselal said. “She's our backbone and she's what we need in our goaltending to get to the playoffs.”
Wisconsin's Maddie Wheeler scored the first goal of the game 1:32 into the second period, but Ohio State responded near the end of the frame.
Two goals from the top corners by senior forwards Kiara Zanon and Makenna Webster gave the Buckeyes a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission, during which they outscored the Badgers 14-5.
Ohio State won 3-1 with a goal from senior forward Jenna Brioni in the final minute to close out the game. Kirk finished the game with 28 saves, the second most this season.
“It really showed our athletic maturity of not giving up,” Muselal said. “When we started playing more games and being more aggressive and trusting our system, we started playing more Buckeye hockey and started controlling the game. Ta.”
Like Ohio State on Friday, Wisconsin came away with a come-from-behind victory on Saturday. Kenzie Hauswirth's two goals gave the Buckeyes a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period, but Wisconsin fought back with four points.
Badgers forward Casey O'Brien scored two goals, one in the second period and one in the third, to tie the game at 2-2. Lyla Edwards gave Wisconsin the lead with 8:45 left in the third period, and capped off a 4-2 victory with an empty net goal with eight seconds left.
“I was proud of the first 20 minutes,” Muselal said. “It was disappointing how we started the second period. I think we got a little more comfortable, but you can never do that with this team.”
Ohio State finished the 2023-24 regular season with the best overall record and best conference record in program history.
The Buckeyes return next weekend to take on No. 8 seed Bemidji State in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament quarterfinals. The three-game series will be held Friday through Sunday at the Ohio State Ice Rink. All games will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.
